Guard-rail connector.



CyT. GOATBS. GUARD RAIL CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1914.

1,107,036. Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

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CLINTON T. COATES,KOF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE G. HELLER, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS. j j i.

GUARD-Rain ooNNEcToR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLINTON T. CoATEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Guard-Rail Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to guard rail connectors and has for its particular object to provide novel means for connecting the guard rail to the ordinary track rail and in such manner that the entire length of the guard rail is separated and maintained in parallel relation to the track rail independent of any adjustment of the filler blocks. In most of the devices now upon the market the clamping mechanism consists of a yokeshaped frame between one end of which and the web of the rail is arranged a wedging mechanism and the filler blocks are adjustable so as to determine the separation between the main rail and the guard rail. As this separation must necessarily be constant so that the rails are parallel throughout the length it follows that the rails should be held against outward spreading solely by the yoke member and to this end my invention has been designed and also with the object of simplicity in construction and application uppermost.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 and 2 represent respectively the track rail and the guard rail, the former of which has its base 3 cut away as shown at 4 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Engaged with the webs of the track and guard rails are the terminal ends of a yoke-shaped clamping member 5 which extends beneath the bases of the rails, as shown, and pro- Vides an immovable abut-ment for the rails to insure their equi-distant separation as will be readily understood. Arranged between the track and guard rails are the filler blocks 6 and 7 the former being provided witha depending ear 8 notched as shown at 9 to receive the member 5 to prevent lateral displacement thereof. Both filler blocks are provided with longitudinally extending channels 10 which gradually deepen toward one end and are arranged in a common plane horizontally when the filler blocks are in position between the base and head of the rails. Fitted within these channel members is a tapered key bolt 11 having its small end threaded as shown so as to receive the clamping nut 12. In this instance the clamping nut is held in position by a washer 13 having a right angular flange 14 bent up therefrom so as to hold the nut against movement after the same has been tightened upon the bolt. Drawing the tapered key bolt between the liller blocks separates said blocks and forces them into engagement with the webs of the rails, thus pressing the rails into engagement withthe terminals of the yoke-shaped clamping member and effectively connecting the guard rail to the track rail.

What is claimed is 1. In a guard rail connector of the class described, the combination with a guard rail and a track rail, of a, yoke-shaped clamping member surrounding the bases of said rails and engaged with the outside of the webs thereof, filler blocks arranged between the rails and having tapered channels therein, a tapered key fitting in said channels, and a nut threaded on the key for drawing the same between the blocks whereby they will be spread against the inside of the rails.

2. In a guard rail connector of the class described, the combination with a guard rail and a track rail, of a yoke-shaped clamping member surrounding the bases of said rails and engaged with the outside of the webs thereof, filler blocks arranged between the rails and having tapered channels therein, a tapered key fitting in said channels, a nut threaded on the key for drawing the same between tbe blocks whereby they will be spread against the inside of the rails, and means carried by one of lche In testimony whereof I aix my Sgmllmic 1n PleSellC@ O' two witnesses.

filler blocks for engaging the clamping CLINTON T' COATES 5 member for maintaining a constant relation Witnesses:

between the ller blocks and the clamping MINNIE B. HELLER,

member.

GEORGE G. HELLER.

Copies of this patent may be'obtained for ve centsv each, by addressing the Commis sioner of Patents, Washington D. C. o 

